Persisting file system information on mobile devices

Abstract

A communication device and method are provided for storing and updating file system information for a network resource such as a content server or application server over a wireless connection. Data pertaining to a folder structure or content listing is received at the device and stored in persistent memory. Upon determination that the stored file system information has aged beyond a predetermined threshold and that a last modification time for the network resource is later than a time associated with the first file system information, a request is transmitted over a wireless connection for new file system information for the network resource. The request may be intercepted by a mobile data server that communicates with the network resource to provide the information to the communication device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A communication device adapted to store and update file system information for a network resource, the communication device comprising:
 a wireless communication module; 
 a display; 
 a persistent memory; and 
 a processor in communication with the wireless communication module, the display, and the persistent memory, the processor being configured to:
 store, in the persistent memory, data comprising first file system information received via the wireless connection module for the network resource; 
 request, using the wireless connection module, new file system information for the network resource when it is determined that the first file system information has aged beyond a predetermined threshold and that a last modification time for the network resource is later than a time associated with the first file system information; 
 enable receiving data comprising the new file system information using the wireless connection module; 
 store said data comprising the new file system information in the persistent memory; and 
 enable display of at least a portion of the stored data comprising the first file system information when it is determined that a condition has been met, the condition being selected from: the first file system information has not aged beyond the predetermined threshold, and the last modification time for the network resource being earlier than the time associated with the first file system information. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the first file system information and the new file system information comprise an initial folder structure of the network resource. 
     
     
       3. The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the network resource comprises one of a content server, a file server, or an application server. 
     
     
       4. The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the data comprising the first file system information and the data comprising the new file system information are received from a mobile data server in communication with the network resource. 
     
     
       5. The communication device of  claim 4 , wherein the mobile data server receives file system information from the network resource in a first format, and transmits the data comprising the first file system information and the data comprising the new file system information to the communication device in a second format. 
     
     
       6. The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to enable receipt of a request for file system information at the network resource, said request being associated with user credentials, and wherein said user credentials are validated at the network resource prior to said receiving data comprising the new file system information. 
     
     
       7. The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to enable receipt of the last modification time for the network resource and to compare said last modification time with the time associated with the first file system information in response to a received request for file system information. 
     
     
       8. The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to enable display of at least a portion of the data comprising the new file system information at the communication device once received. 
     
     
       9. The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to carry out said requesting in response to a received refresh command. 
     
     
       10. A method for updating, at a communication device, file system information for a network resource, the method comprising:
 storing, in persistent memory at the communication device, data comprising first file system information received over a wireless connection for the network resource; 
 requesting, over the wireless connection, new file system information for the network resource when it is determined that the first file system information has aged beyond a predetermined threshold and that a last modification time for the network resource is later than a time associated with the first file system information; 
 receiving data comprising the new file system information over the wireless connection; 
 storing said data comprising the new file system information in the persistent memory; and 
 displaying at least a portion of the stored data comprising the first file system information when it is determined that a condition has been met, the condition being selected from: the first file system information has not aged beyond the predetermined threshold, and the last modification time for the network resource is earlier than the time associated with the first file system information. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first file system information and the new file system information comprise an initial folder structure of the network resource. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the network resource comprises one of a content server, a file server, or an application server. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the data comprising the first file system information and the data comprising the new file system information are received from a mobile data server in communication with the network resource. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the mobile data server receives file system information from the network resource in a first format, and transmits the data comprising the first file system information and the data comprising the new file system information to the communication device in a second format. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said requesting is carried out in response to a request at the communication device for file system information from the network resource, the request being associated with user credentials, and wherein said user credentials are validated at the network resource prior to said receiving data comprising the new file system information. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising receiving the last modification time for the network resource and comparing said last modification time with the time associated with the first file system information in response to a received request for file system information. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising displaying at least a portion of the data comprising the new file system information at the communication device once received. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said requesting is carried out in response to a received refresh command. 
     
     
       19. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising code executable by a processing device to carry out the method of:
 storing, in persistent memory at the communication device, data comprising first file system information received over a wireless connection for the network resource; 
 requesting, over the wireless connection, new file system information for the network resource when it is determined that the first file system information has aged beyond a predetermined threshold and that a last modification time for the network resource is later than a time associated with the first file system information; 
 receiving data comprising the new file system information over the wireless connection; 
 storing said data comprising the new file system information in the persistent memory; and 
 displaying at least a portion of the stored data comprising the first file system information when it is determined that a condition has been met, the condition being selected from: the first file system information has not aged beyond the predetermined threshold, and the last modification time for the network resource is earlier than the time associated with the first file system information.